Bahrain parliament to debate policy on illegals
Illegal labour estimated at between 50,000 to 55,000 in the country
Cairo: A number of Bahraini lawmakers have requested a parliamentary debate on the government policy on illegal migrant workers in the country amid repercussions spawned by the global coronavirus, according to a media report.
The Council of Representatives, or the lower house of the parliament, will soon vote on the lawmakers’ requests, Bahraini newspaper Akhbar Al Khaleej said.
Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority has recently intensified a crackdown on illegal workers estimated at between 50,000 to 55,000 in the country.
Last month, a Bahraini parliamentary committee approved a draft bill obliging employers to give job preferences to citizens as the kingdom is seeking to replace expatriates in work.
Check records
The draft commits employers to check records of Bahraini job-seekers and hire the qualified citizens. Failure to comply with the regulations will be punishable by a fine ranging from BD5,000 to 20,000,
The numbers of foreign workers in Bahrain have recently dropped to 456,840 this year against 477,741 in 2019, according to figures released by Bahrain’s state Social Insurance organisation.
Foreigners account for more than half of Bahrain’s 1.7 million population.